Contributed by: pitstomp(others by this writer | submit your own)Published on May 21st 2002This album is a tribute to humanity. The songs all touch base with a truth that no album (Rancid or otherwise) has thus far been able to capture. The wide variety of tunes and themes impresses me. Plus all the guests are cool (people from Dickie Barrett to Markey Ramone, to the Stubborn Allstars,.

This album is a tribute to humanity. The songs all touch base with a truth that no album (Rancid or otherwise) has thus far been able to capture. The wide variety of tunes and themes impresses me. Plus all the guests are cool (people from Dickie Barrett to Markey Ramone, to the Stubborn Allstars, plus tons more).

I was a little taken back by the experimentalism at first, but like all good punk rock records, it takes time to truly hear what the band is trying to show people. Life Won't Wait is now near the top of my list for favorite records.

One complaint, however is the curious lack of Matt Freeman's token gurgle, you don't hear him once on the record, which results in an overuse of Lars' hillbilly caterwalling (don't get me wrong, Lars' songwriting is brilliant and he is a good singer, it's just that songs like Lady Liberty show me that too much of a good thing can be bad).

The drum work in this album pulses with great energy and always seems to tap into the proper emotional context of each of the varied songs. Brett shows that he is actually a great drummer who can adjust to any style of music.

Tim, undoubtedly, is the star of the record. While Lars takes the lead in half the songs on the album. Tims' vocals make you want to go into a frenzy and remain calm at the same time. I'd swear (if I didn't know better) to this day that he was drunk for the duration of the recording sessions. Just listen to warsaw and corazon de oro.

Overall, a highly recommended record with a lenthy replay value. Although it should have been called Rancid and friends. Where did they get that Rastafarian guy?

This album is awesum! While much more varied than their first three records, it still packs a great punch, especially with all da great guest musicians on it from Roger Miret to Buju Banton! Highly recommended listening...

This is definitely my favorite Rancid record, and I think it's their best as well. There isn't a song on here I don't like, and Coppers is fuckin amazing, probably my favorite Rancid song. But just as I wouldn't give someone Sandinista! to introduce them to The Clash, I wouldn't give them this as an introduction to Rancid.

This is undoubtedly, for me, tied with ....And out Come the Wolves for the single best punk album ever made. This album does not get bogged down, or samey. The Reggae and ska influences can be heard clearly, and this makes me like it even more. Corazon de Oro might be my favorite song ever.

Anonymous (April 30, 2004)

Lucas Cimarusti loves this album. Before he got into punk he was fatter than Ken Berens. Then Rancid came along and made him super punk rock. Thanks Rancid dudes for making Luke so fucking punk rock!

Anonymous (April 19, 2004)

This is one of Rancid's best cd's. Yes, it is a change from the normal Rancid but it's not bad. If you read interviews by them they say that the album was made for them. They need to make that album. They didn't care if no one liked it but you know what, people do and that's just a bonus for them. ALSO, Rancid DID NOT SIGN TO W.BRO. In tons of interviews the guys all say that. Plus, on June 29th 2003 Warped Tour was here in IL and Lars Frederiksen (singer/guitar) of Rancid said to an interviewer/Fan at the signing witch was held at Rancid's merch. booth that they aren't signing to w.bro's BUT they might be using their studio's Rancid's miterial. That doesn't mean they are signing with them. It means they wont have to pay for studio time.

This, and Rancid's 2001 self titled album, will probably be the last 2 decent Rancid album that will ever be released, seeing as they are becoming more and more of a MTV/MuchMusic punk act.

Anonymous (March 13, 2004)

somone early said rancid owes everything to blink 182 just to let you know rancid been around a lot longer jackass

Anonymous (January 25, 2004)

Good Charlotte of the 90s?! Everyone knows good charlotte. but here know one knowes Rancid.

Anonymous (December 30, 2003)

Life Won't Wait is the best Rancid album, and one of the best ever. "Wolves" was as close to perfect as I thought there could be, but Life Won't Wait somehow topped it. I'd say Leicester Square or Coppers are the best, though Hooligans and Wrongful Suspicion are also awesome. Last two albums haven't been nearly as good as this one.

Anonymous (December 17, 2003)

This band is nonthing like Good Charlotte
Good charlotte shouldnt be allowed to
make music after young and the hopeless.

Anonymous (December 16, 2003)

fuck this band they fucking suck if i could kill somethign without getting in trouble for it i would kill this band because they are overrated and they suck cock, i hate you rancid i hope you all burn in hell and live shitty wives and i hope your wifes and children get kidnap and brutally murdered i hate you 8-) jk

Anonymous (November 9, 2003)

rancid is the good charlotte for the early 90s

Anonymous (November 6, 2003)

I think this is one of the best Rancid
albums ever made. I dont understand why people are giving it a small score.
Comparing to there self title album from 2000 this kicks ass.

Anonymous (November 2, 2003)

4 posts down = list some of your favorite bands, and you shall be critiqued also. But for now, quit your never-ending bullshit about how ska bands don't all sound like the fucking specials. Oh my gawd dude, this band isn't totally ska, lets all shit a brick and complain. Fucker.

-c22

Anonymous (October 25, 2003)

rancid owes everything to blink without blink to pioneer the scene there would be no rancid

Jim Armstrong is the man!
Sorry to the dude below me, I had to say it, although I'm sure it was a typo.

Anonymous (October 9, 2003)

great band i got their first album, and out come the wolves,its very good.seen them in london and i have to admit its very good pop-punk kind of like busted's early stuff but with more feeling. arrested in bangkok is my favourite of the new album.what do u think of jim armstrongs new stuff with the transplants?????

Anonymous (October 5, 2003)

3 post below me. you are the dumbfuck idiot. ltj isn't a fucking ska band. and even if they had any ska influences, it was cookie cutter pop punk influenced horse shit which only wattered down the real product that bands like the specials and hepcat did.

Anonymous (August 27, 2003)

The "Paul's Boutique" of the 1990s. I'm standing by that. WAY underated.

Anonymous (August 15, 2003)

-c22

Anonymous (August 15, 2003)

Four posts down = you have the nerve to call LTJ "Crap teeny ska"?? Wow, you are an idiot. Whoa, they wrote SGBS and now it's all popular, but who gives a fuck, so wasn't Rancid at 1 point. My point = LTJ is amazing.... and this cd is good also.

Anonymous (August 15, 2003)

i'm not sure how this came to rest in my brain.... maybe i read it somewhere on this website... but whatever- i agree that usually, if you like something right away, you'll get sick of it right away. if it takes you some time to aquire the "taste", then it will last longer.< a>
and rancid kicks ass by the way.

Anonymous (August 6, 2003)

amazing cd. im not a big rancid fan, but this cd is just amazing. best songs are hoover street, and coppers.

the guy below me knows whats up. i bought this shit the day it came out, all fucking stoked after ...and out come the wolves and ready for something that would rock me. i had no idea what the fuck these guys were doing when i heard it the first time. i hated it... i liked warsaw, 1998... i just put it on again around november of last year, and i finally started to really appreciate it. it is ingenious. these guys really made music on this one.

Anonymous (July 13, 2003)

Comparisons lack imagination, but fuck it- this album is 'London Calling' for a new era. Ambitous, even self-indulgent but absolutely shit hot. I first got it when I was 17 and didn't quite get it at first. Crap teeny ska like reel big fish and less than jake had ruined the genre in my narrow teenage mind, and i'd just skip to the more rockin numbers like 'bloodclot' and '1998'. Killer songs, as good as anything rancid (or the clash, come to think of it...) ever released, but I still didn't get into half the album. But then some bastard speed freaks down the road broke in and flogged our house's entire cd collection one night. I'd leant this album to a mate, so it was the only cd i had left. I was forced to try to appreciate it on a deeper level, at least until my next dole payment. And when i put my anti-ska prejudice aside and really gave it a chance, fuck me those songs are good. They don't sound like the bad teen movie soundtrack ska that gave the genre a bad name, but more of an old school Specials-type sound. Ska with balls, brains, soul, guts and other complimentary body parts. A bit derivative, sure, but hey! I'd rather listen to a great ripoff of the Clash/Specials than a poor one of Offspring/blink 182. Sit down with a bottle of rum, light a nice fat spliff, crank this up and imagine you're sitting under a palm tree on a Cuban beach. The best thing Rancid ever did, and better than just about anything anyone else ever did. A classic

The only Rancid anyone should take into their bodies is the rancid milk in my refrigerator. The milk is about ten weeks overdue and smells quite ripe. It is vaguely green and there is more solid than liquid. It continually produces a gurgling noise, which is why I mention it. The milk was more entertaining and was twice as punk rock as it was not taking anything from anybody, it did not believe in hygiene, and it had the kicking vocals and beat. I invited some friends over and we had the most punkest mashed pit to the awesome sounds of DJ Hole Milk. Afterward(unlike this CD) we were treated to a tall glass of DJ Hole Milk, who was refreshing and smooth and chunky and creamy and vile. Rancid could learn something from my recent friend, my punk artist, my milk: DJ Hole Milk.
Oh, DJ Hole Milk did spawn and his spawn requested that the next Rancid album have more Reggae as this one was much to hardcore for his curdledness.
--By the way, the ten is for our recently departed, DJ Hole Milk. The remainder is for Rancid. Figure that out, smart guy.

Anonymous (June 19, 2003)

This record is an upset to me because if you listen to other rancid records you appreciate them this one is nothing close to the S/T or lets GO. rancid should shape up because this record is not what most people would expect from them they have and can do alot better.

Anonymous (June 16, 2003)

This just in: Rancid has signed back onto Hellcat/Epitaph but Matt and Lars have left the band in order to shoot themselves in the head.

this was the first(!)cd I heard with rancid and after hearing it I didn´t give them one more try for a couple of years it was that bad!but fornately I gave them one more try when I downloaded some songs from and out come the wolves and that was probably one of the best things I have done in my entire life cuz that(and out come the wolves)is one of the best cd´s I have ever heard!but this cd is just awful avoid it at all costs,I don´t understand how they(rancid)can make one cd so great and one so bad...strange...

This is a really great cd. It may not be Rancid's best, but it has punk along with of ska/reggae. I like some of the songs on this cd probably better than S/T 2000. Songs like "Cash, Culture and Violence," "Corazon de Oro," "1998" & "Black Lung" are the best. Rancid continues to thrill their fans with amazing differentialities of music and I hope they continue to do so.

This guy below is funny. I got this album last week, and it sounds pretty good so far. The first five tracks definitely slap me round the face with their greatness. Hoover Street, what a song! I'm giving it seven but that can only be going up.

Anonymous (June 2, 2002)

idiots. plain idiots all of you kids know jack shit. this is rancid's best album to date. all the rest of their shit is boring horseshit punk. i bet when they were making this record they probably had a conversation that probably went something like this:
Lars, "but guys, this is not punk, i mean reggae, ska, folk, and good music! what we doing here, selling out, its not punk, hold up i got to go put some more glue in my mohawk, im a poser with a bad side project"
Tim, "hey lars if it weren't for us people would still think your a idiot. hey remember, i was in a band before..it was i think like 100000 times better than anything you'll ever make"
Matt, "i rock at bass"
Brett,"i farted"

Anonymous (June 1, 2002)

Rancid licks balls. Life Won't Wait is a quality album. I think it's one of the best punk albums ever, because they were REALLY punk by pushing the envelope musically. They they released another self-titled album that showed they were flukes who do lick balls.

Anonymous (May 29, 2002)

Ever since I REALLY got into Rancid, a year or so ago, I have been weery to buy this album because of the negative things I have heard about it and also because I hadnt heard of it like the others (Lets Go, ...And out come the Wolves). But I think I will pick this one up after reading this review (although it wasnt that great) and the comments.

This is the cd that made me hate rancid with a passion. It didnt sound very good. Sure call me close minded and a fan of simple music while listening to your old billy holiday albums but thats what i think. Their newest made me love em. Dont buy this if you like punk. Buy it if you like Reggae. And not the bad brains kind :D

If any of you learned anything form listening to rancid over the years, you would know that it dosen't take "life won't wait" to be melodic and soulful. Rancid is one of the few bands that could actually have a certain level of passion and hard egde to thier music. ...and out come the wolves was a perfect example of that and is a reason why it's so much better than "life wont wait". Experimental is all it was and it was cool, but you don't have to like it because it is. They wrote the best songs ever, and they weren't on this record.

Anonymous (May 26, 2002)

its a great cd plain and simple... if you feel like their harder stuff you can listen to a different cd, simple as that. this cd just adds some variation to their catalouge of songs. theyre keeping things interesting and becasue of that, we can see that they will be around for a long time

This is a trully great album.
Its the kind that takes a little getting used to (well i hated it at first but listened to it a lot at first to see if id get used to it then i didnt listen to it at all for a few months, then listened to it again and fucking loved it after that). both Lyrically and musically works of art and the most political of their albums upto that point in time.

eh...rancid is just one of my favorite bands, but sad to say this ain't one of my favorite albums. Before it came out I was expecting another masterpiece follow up of ...and out come the wolves. Matt freeman, which is just my favorite and literally one of the best bass players of all time, didn't really live up to his work on the prevous albums. Sure, it was an articulate and soulful album, but it missed one thing that made rancid the best band that they are, energy. I felt It just didn't move me as much as "radio", "rats in the hallway", "time bomb", and "side kick" some of my favs to name a few. It just wasen't the rancid that I knew.

yeah i really like this record, i have no idea why so many dislike it soo much. It has punk songs like bloodclot on it, and ska songs like well.... a lot of em' but this is a great record.

Anonymous (May 23, 2002)

for some one to say that rancid should stick to what they know but stay away from reggea/ska
dude, have you ever heard of this old little band called operation ivy?
timmy and matt from rancid were in it, i think you should check it out before telling rancid what they dont know about.

this album was a shock to me at first, but it surely is a great album, and good on them for trying new stuff.

Anonymous (May 23, 2002)

I think it's great to hear everyone's opinions on this, some people have their favorite songs on this the ones others hate. but personally, i like this one better than out come the wolves (only other cd that i've heard the whole thing) there were so many great songs like bloodclot, 1998, lecester square, but, all of it just went so well together, when one song ended it lead so good into the next. And the bass rocks on this, one of the few bands that makes their bassist audible. great album

Anonymous (May 22, 2002)

This is by far the worst Rancid album to date. I know that they were being experimental, but it just didn't work out for them. The only good things about this album is The Intro, Bloodclot, and Warsaw. So in the future let's hope Rancid sticks with what they know, hardcore punk and never experiment with reggae/ska again.

A great album that beautifully displays every one of their musical influences. Excellent incorporation of other artists as well. First album and "Let's Go" are still a toss up as being my favorite though.....

Anonymous (May 22, 2002)

This is my favorite Rancid record...I really liked where they were going with alot of these songs...

Anonymous (May 22, 2002)

Yeah, this is the most experimental and consequently my favorite Rancid album as of yet. I'm just sorry I scratched the motherfucker up.

I love this record. Everyone lambasted it when it was released but I love it, flaws and all. It's got such great use of guest musicians too: Buju, Dr. Israel, Dave Hillyard and Vic Ruggerio (Slackers), Dicky Barrett (Bosstones), Neville Staple (Specials)... more but I can't remember them all...

adam

Anonymous (May 21, 2002)

i enjoy all their albums. for really rocking rancid, go with their first album. if you want a little more mellow and melodic rancid, stick with this one. if you want almost hardcore with only a few good songs, go with the newest rancid full length, which is my least favorite album. i do enjoy the split cd with NOFX though. got to find that shit

Anonymous (May 21, 2002)

Was I the only one here who was dissapointed by this album? Ack, this is no Let's Go. ...and out come the wolves was good, but tough to listen to now (heard it too much). Another thing, it's in a shitty cardboard thing. I hate that!

Anonymous (May 21, 2002)

I totally agree, both with the review and with the guy who gave props to Buju Banton's "Til Shiloh." I love Buju and that's definitely his best album. I love Rancid too, and this album may be my favorite of theirs. While I really got into their latest record when that came out, this is the one I go back to the most. Out Come The Wolves is amazing, but I find that I hear a lot of those songs on the radio or in friends cars/houses and it gets a little played out for me. This is the shit....krowdsurf

Good, but I still consider ...and out come the wolves as their best work.

Anonymous (May 21, 2002)

The rastafarian guy is Buju Banton, who not too long ago, wasnàt rastafarian. Anyway, his third or forth major album, "Til Shiloh" is an amazing album that walks the line between traditional reggae and hard dancehall. His made two albums since, and they all pale in comparison...